Footwear with illuminating sole

ABSTRACT

Footwear includes a translucent outsole that can be illuminated out the bottom and sides of the outsole. The illumination may be controlled by a selector switch with modes selected by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 61/474,612 filed Apr. 12, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to footwear, and more particularly to footwear with an illuminating sole.

Some current footwear includes light elements. Typically, a shoe with light elements includes a light placed in a heel section of the shoe. The light elements are encased between an opaque rubber outsole and the upper of the shoe. A window along the side of the heel, above the sole may allow the light to shine out from the window. The illumination can be limited in prior art shoes, providing a few twinkling lights that temporarily amuse, for example, children.

The light is activated by a switch that closes when the wearer steps onto the heel. Thus, every step of the user may activate lights on the shoe, which can be a distraction in locales such as church or a classroom or can be a nuisance in areas meant to be maintained in the dark, for example, movie theatres.

As can be seen, there is a need for footwear that can present a bolder fashion statement with illumination. As can also be seen, there is a need for footwear with illumination that can be controlled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, footwear comprises a vamp; a translucent outsole attached to the vamp; a power source attached to either the vamp or outsole; and a light source in the outsole powered by the power source, wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate out a bottom and out a perimeter of the outsole.

In another aspect of the present invention, footwear comprises a vamp; an outsole attached to the vamp, the outsole including translucent portions; a power source attached to either the vamp or outsole; a selector switch coupled to the power source; and a light source in the outsole, the light source connected to the selector switch and power source, wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate around the periphery of the outsole and wherein the selector switch is adapted to control illumination of the light source.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a piece of footwear including shadowed elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is bottom view of the piece of footwear shown in FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides footwear that can illuminate underneath and/or the periphery of one's foot. In one aspect, light sources are configured to illuminate all around the footwear's outsole. In another aspect, illumination can be controlled by the wearer to be either continuously on, off, or activated by pressure.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, footwear 100 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The footwear 100 can be, for example, a shoe. The footwear 100 may include a vamp 110 and an outsole 125.

The outsole 125 may be translucent rubber or plastic, for example. The outsole 125 may include a bottom surface 145 and a sidewall 120. In one aspect, portions of the outsole 125 are translucent or transparent. For example, the bottom surface 145 may be translucent or transparent. Also for example, the sidewall 120 may be translucent or transparent and may extend all around the perimeter of the outsole 125. In another exemplary embodiment, the entire outsole 125 is translucent or transparent.

The outsole 125 may include a light source 175. In one exemplary embodiment, the light source may be an array 170 of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light sources 175 may be electrically coupled together by wiring 177. The light source 175 may be disposed to illuminate out the bottom surface 145 and out the sidewall 120 so that the perimeter or periphery of the outsole 125 is lit.

The outsole 125 may be divided into sections 192, 194, 186, and 198 as designated by broken lines in FIG. 2. Section 192 may be designated to the area under a user's toes when the footwear 100 is worn. Section 194 may be designated as the area under a user's ball of the foot. Section 196 may be designated as the area under the user's foot arch. Section 198 may be designated as the area under the user's heel.

In one aspect, the light source(s) 125 may illuminate the entire bottom surface 145. In an exemplary embodiment, the array 170 may extend from the section 192 under the toes through sections 194 (under the ball of the foot) and 196 (under the arch) to section 198 under the heel. In other exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that one or more of sections 192, 194, 196, or 198 may be sans the light source 175. The light source 175 may also be disposed along or proximate the side wall 120, for example between ⅛″ to ¼″ from the side wall 120 exterior.

The vamp 110 may include a fabric upper 115. A midsole 180 may be disposed between the upper 115 and the outsole 125. The vamp 110 may include a power source 140 and a selector switch 150 adapted to control illumination of the light source 175. While the power source 140 and selector switch 150 are shown in the vamp 110, it will be understood that other exemplary embodiments may include the power source 140 and selector switch 150 in the outsole 125. The selector switch 150 may include, for example, three modes: an “on” mode; an “off” mode; and a programmable mode that can be manually selected by the user. The “on” mode may be configured to provide continuous illumination from the light source 175. The “off” mode may be configured so that the light source 175 does not illuminate. The programmable mode may be, for example, a “pressure sense” or “step” mode activated by the user walking. The “pressure sense” mode may be configured so that a pressure sensor 130 connected between the switch 150 and light source 175 is enabled to detect when a user is stepping with the footwear 100. When the switch is in the “pressure sense” mode, illumination of the light source 175 may be intermittent, for example, adapted to illuminate the light source 175 when a user's heel applies pressure to the sensor 130. The power source 140 may be, for example, a DC battery connected to the switch 150, the light source 175, and the sensor 135 via wires 135. While the pressure sensor 130 is shown above the midsole 180, it will be understood that in other exemplary embodiments, the sensor 130 may be sealed off from a user's foot, for example, disposed under an insole (not shown) or the midsole 180 or thereunder. In other exemplary embodiments, the programmable mode may be configured so that more complex lighting schemes other than “on” and “off” types may be enabled. For example, the light sources 175 may be directed to flash in coordinated sequences, according to patterns, or pre-determined order of the sections 192, 194, 196, or 198.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. Footwear, comprising: a vamp; a translucent outsole attached to the vamp; a power source attached to either the vamp or outsole; and a light source in the outsole powered by the power source, wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate out a bottom and out a perimeter of the outsole.
 2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an array of light sources positioned from under a heel section and under a ball section of the outsole.
 3. The footwear of claim 2 wherein the light source includes light emitting diodes (LEDs).
 4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the entire bottom of the outsole is translucent.
 5. The footwear of claim 4 wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate out a translucent sidewall along the perimeter of the outsole.
 6. Footwear, comprising: a vamp; an outsole attached to the vamp, the outsole including translucent portions; a power source attached to either the vamp or outsole; a selector switch coupled to the power source; and a light source in the outsole, the light source connected to the selector switch and power source, wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate around the periphery of the outsole and wherein the selector switch is adapted to control illumination of the light source.
 7. The footwear of claim 6 wherein the selector switch is configured to switch between “on”, “off”, and “pressure sense” modes to power the light source.
 8. The footwear of claim 7 wherein the light source includes an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed to illuminate from under a heel section and under a ball section of the outsole.
 9. The footwear of claim 8 wherein the LEDs are disposed to also illuminate out a sidewall along the perimeter of the outsole.
 10. The footwear of claim 9 wherein the entire outsole is translucent and wherein the LEDs are disposed to illuminate the entire outsole. 